CHAPTER 13

The next day, it was early in the afternoon. The Chaotix team were taking a much needed break after they had a long morning of moving new furniture in and around within the building.

Appex tiredly leaned against a bar counter with a cup of coffee in his hands. "So tired…" He spoke within a yawn.

"Tell me about I", Tonya agreed as she sat on a black crate on the floor. "We've definitely been slaving over this place."

Ker was leaning against a huge desk beside Shadow. "But look around. We're doing such a good job." He turned to the hedgehog, "Aren't we, Shadow?"

The hedgehog took a sip from his coffee mug and made a small nod. "Absolutely. At this rate, we'll be done in no time."

Espio was sitting across from Rouge at a small table. He noticed that she appeared to have a lot on her mind and it put her in a depressed mood. "Hey you good, bat girl?"

The bat woman snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Espio call out to her. "Huh?"

Espio once again repeated himself, "You okay? You're acting like someone ran over your puppy."

Her eyes traveled down to the coffee mug she held in her hands while it set on the surface of the table. "It's just…I feel bad for what happened yesterday."

Tonya arched an eyebrow in confusion, "What did happen yesterday?"

She looked up at the group, "Tikal", she spoke. "I felt like we were neglecting her or something. She seemed so sad."

Everyone had then realized what had happened yesterday while they were working. They all suddenly felt bad as they remembered how they had treated her.

"Holy crap!" Appex spoke, "I was acting like a total douche bag to her and all she wanted to do what was help."

Shadow sighed heavily as he remembered how short he was being towards her. "And I acted like I had a one track mind because I was so caught up in my work."

"We should've treated her better", Midnight spoke.

Tonya placed a finger to her chin. She wasn't there at the time when Tikal had visited them yesterday, "All that went on yesterday? No wonder she came home so late last night."

"She did?" Rouge asked in worry, "Is she okay?"

Tonya shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I barely saw her this morning. She left in such a hurry, I barely had a chance to say hi to her."

Rouge felt worse and worse as horrible thoughts ran inside of her head. "Poor Tikal! She's so lonely!"

Everyone's eyes widened when they saw Rouge's head hit the surface of the table in sadness.

Charmy arched an eyebrow towards her behavior.

Shadow stood beside her and uneasily rubbed her back. "Calm down, Rouge. I'm sure she's fine."

Rouge took her head away from the table and turned to Shadow with a hopeful look.

Shadow turned to the rest of the group, "Look, we're all just tired and cranky. The next time Tikal walks through those doors, we'll treat her like a fucking princess."

Everyone nodded and smiled in agreement.

Later on at a pizza restaurant, Tikal was sitting across from Nails at a table. The two were laughing and talking while they were sharing a large pizza with each other.

Tikal giggled as she listened to Nails' story. "And what did you end up doing when you found out?"

The bat woman took another slice of pizza, "I was so pissed, I turned his dick into a pickle."

The echidna rose an eyebrow in disbelief, "…A pickle?"

"Not just any pickle. A really squishy and soft pickle." She explained before eating off from the slice of pizza she held in her hands.

The both of their laughter carried throughout the small restaurant. Many people could hear their strange conversations and got disturbed by it.

Tikal had laughed so much, her stomach was starting to hurt as Nails told her stories of some of her ex boyfriends. "Oh my God! Nails, you're awful!"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Hey he was a total jerk." She arched an eyebrow towards Tikal, "What about you, hun?"

She looked at her with a blank look, "Huh?"

"You've had any jerky exes in your life?"

Tikal paused and realized that she had never grew close to anyone in that kind off way before. She never really had an official interest she had taken in anyone. "Well", she began. "I actually never really had a romantic interest with anyone."

Nails looked at her in disbelief, "Get outta here! No one?"

She shook her head with an uneasy smile on her face.

"Not even a little innocent crush?"

"Nope!"

She crossed her arms and legs as she became interested in Tikal's personal love life. "Let me guess. You're a virgin too?"

"Yeah", she answered with a light blush on her face.

"Wha? I can't believe this! You're a total saint!"

She couldn't help but to form a sly smile on her face, "Heh, something like that."

"You're such a sweetheart. I bet all of your friends are like in love with you."

Her smile faded as she shrugged her shoulders, "…Yeah I suppose."

Nails noticed her sudden change in mood, "Oh I know that look. Trouble in paradise?"

"Oh no, no nothing like that. I'm on good terms with all of my friends. It's just they've been so busy lately and it seems like they just don't have enough time for me", she explained.

"I'm sure they mean well. They just got a lot on their plate right now."

"Yeah I could never be angry with them. They've done so much for me and a lot of people."

"They sound like good hearted people."

Suddenly Tikal was hit with a sudden idea, "Hey I can totally introduce you to them! I just know they'll love you!"

She made a warm smile towards her. "Okay, sweetie. I'd totally love to meet your friends."

Later on, the Chaotix team were still working on setting up the lobby. They all had immediately stopped when they saw Tikal walking through the doors.

Before Tikal could say anything, everyone ran up to her happily. She was hugged tightly by Rouge.

"Oh Tikal, I'm so glad you're back!"

She rose an eyebrow by everyone's sudden behavior. Yesterday they acted like she didn't exist and today they were all over here. Perhaps they noticed how distant they were being with her and felt bad for it. "I wasn't gone for the entire day."

Rouge pulled away fro her, "I know but me and the guys were talking and we agreed that we should've paid more attention to you."

"Yeah, Tikal", Shadow spoke as he walked over to them. "You will always be apart of this family. Don't ever forget that."

A wide smile formed on Tikal's face. "I'm so glad you all feel that way. You make me so happy."

"We're glad, honey", Tonya spoke with a warm smile.

"What have you been up to anyway? We've barely seen you all day." Rouge spoke.

"Oh! I met someone just yesterday. She and I have grown really close to each other", Tikal explained.

Rouge clasped her hands together happily, "Oh you made a friend? I'm so happy for you, hun."

Espio murmured over to Shadow, "About time. Between her and Ker in the house, I barely have any alone time with Tonya."

Shadow had agreed that Tonya's house was always busy with her, Tikal, and Ker living under one roof.

Everyone watched as a black bat woman walked through the doors and stepped into the lobby. Speechless, everyone stared at the familiar woman.

The black bat gave the group the same shocked expression.

Tikal still had an excited look on her face, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my new friend, Nails."

Nails' shocked expression had then formed into a sly one. She crossed her arms as she stood in front of the group of shocked detectives. "Well, isn't this a surprise. Long time no see…"

In The Next Chapter…

Tonya: Tikal! Get away from her!

Tikal: What's going on?

Rouge: It's been a long time…sister…

Nails: Just let me explain…

Shadow: You'd better start making some sense before I blow you to bits!

Tikal: Shadow, no!